Troop 701 Announces Newest Eagle Scout

  The following is an announcement from Boy Scout Troop 701 of Wakefield:

Troop 701 is proud to announce that Ryan MacNeill, a senior at Wakefield High School, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Ryan has been a member of the troop for four years. Ryan's scouting experience has included earning 27 merit badges in topics including; backpacking, public speaking, environmental science, motor boating, canoeing, and citizenship.

Macneill served in various leadership positions with the troop including; Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Den Chief, and Instructor. His work with younger scouts served to motivate them and his leadership set a positive example for the younger scouts in the troop.

He was also instrumental in leading the troop's trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in 2010. He served as Assistant Crew Leader on that 53 mile backpacking trip to New Mexico and earned the nickname "Mom" for his relentless reminders to stay hydrated and protected from the sun. In addition to the trip to New Mexico Ryan has climbed Mount Washington multiple times along with many other 4000 foot mountains in New Hampshire.

Ryan consistently exceeded the community service requirements of Scouting, earning the Service to America Award and volunteering up to 65 hours in a year. His volunteer work included landscaping at the Hartshorne House, Sorting food at the Interfaith Food Pantry, Painting at the First Parish Congregational Church, and packing CARE packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for Helping Our Troops.

MacNeill's largest volunteer effort was his Eagle Leadership Project this past August. He lead over 40 scouts, marching band members, and adults for a cumulative 660 hours building a shed at Landrigan Field. This shed will be used to store marching band equipment.

Ryan has been a member of the Shark Patrol which currently boasts four Eagle Scouts with two more scouts who are working on Eagle Leadership projects and are on track to earn scouting's highest rank within the next year.  In addition to scouting, MacNeill is a section leader in the WHS Marching Band, and a member of the wrestling and track and field teams.